Friday, December 27, 2013

Last Bunche Visit: Late Fall 2013

My last late Fall visit to Bunche Beach Preserve was made on 19 November with the company of Chris, Rachael, and Paul Baker visiting from England.


The Tricolored Heron above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.

Chris and I were taking photographs of the wildlife while Rachael and Paul were observers. We trekked to the west channel and into the bay to the furthest sandbar where a large flock of Black Skimmers were loafing with a bathing Brown Pelican.


The Tricolored Heron above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.


The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.


The Brown Pelican above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.


The Laughing Gull above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.


The Marbled Godwit above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.

While I chose a vantage point that was relative to the wind, Chris remained with the most favorable light. It was to my disadvantage to have diagonal waves in the background of many of my images which makes the pics less appealing.


The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.


The Royal Tern above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.


The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.


The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.


The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.

A handful of Marbled Godwit were present as well. This is one of my favorite species for its distinctive coloration amongst other shore and wading birds.


The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.


The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.


The Sandwich Tern above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.


The Great Blue Heron above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.


The Black Skimmer above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.

With a rise in the water level, the birds made their way across the west channel, and we chose to follow them. A smaller number of peeps were present on this morning than I am accustomed to seeing.


The Black Skimmer above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.


The Black Skimmer above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.


The Tricolored Heron above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.


The Tricolored Heron above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.


The Great Blue Heron above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.

A banded Piping Plover was observed which I always find exciting. I contacted Mary Bomberger Brown, affiliated with the University of Nebraska, to get some further insight on the bird seen.


The Marbled Godwit above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.


The Marbled Godwit above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.


The Marbled Godwit above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.


The Marbled Godwit above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.


The Marbled Godwit above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.

Mary advised me that the plover was banded by the Virginia Tech team as indicated by the green flag on the bird's upper left leg. I later heard from Meryl Friedrich, Database Manager of the Virginia Tech Shorebird Project.


The Marbled Godwit above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.


The Marbled Godwit above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.


The Marbled Godwit above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.


The Marbled Godwit above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.


The Marbled Godwit above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.

Meryl advised me that the plover seen this day was banded by Virginia Tech researchers in June 2013 on the Missouri River near Yankton, South Dakota, and that my report was the first of the bird at its wintering grounds.


The Marbled Godwit above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.


The Marbled Godwit above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.


The banded Piping Plover above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.


The banded Piping Plover above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.


The Semipalmated Plover above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.

Piping Plovers and Snowy Plovers with green flags on their upper right or left leg have been banded by the Virginia Tech team and may be reported by emailing vt.plover@gmail.com. Be sure to get a photo of the bird if you can or at least be sure of the banding combination.


The Semipalmated Plover above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.


The Black-bellied Plover above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.


The Black-bellied Plover above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.


The Least Sandpiper above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.


The Semipalmated Plover above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.

It was great to see the Bakers again and very much look forward to their return.


The Sanderling above was photographed at Bunche Beach Preserve in November 2013.

Friday, December 20, 2013

Harns Marsh Preserve: Late Fall Part III

This article brings closure to observations made at Harns Marsh Preserve on 12 and 17 November 2013.


The Anhinga above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

The action was entertaining and phenomenal. I met up with the Bakers albeit late on the 12th, but highlights were to unfold including the banded male Snail Kite and American Bittern brought to our attention by Ron Bishop.


The Tricolored Heron above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Snail Kite above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Snail Kite above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Snail Kite above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Snail Kite above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Snail Kite above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Snail Kite above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Snail Kite above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Snail Kite above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Snail Kite above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Sandhill Crane above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Sandhill Crane above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Anhinga above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Snail Kite above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

I had never had a better view of the AMBI which seemed entranced with a potential meal remaining virtually motionless for an extended period of time.


The Snail Kite above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Snail Kite with Turkey Vulture above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Snail Kite above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Northern Harrier above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Northern Harrier above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Northern Harrier above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Turkey Vulture above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Black Vulture above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The American Bittern above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The American Bittern above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The American Bittern above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The American Bittern above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Belted Kingfisher above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Wood Stork above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

The last time I observed the otherwise secretive American Bittern at Harns was in a heavy fog as I recall.


Bob Blanchard above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Little Blue Heron above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The American Coot above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Little Blue Heron above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Limpkin above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Limpkin above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Limpkin above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Limpkin above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Limpkin above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Tree Swallow above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Tree Swallow above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Pied-billed Grebe above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Pied-billed Grebe above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Pied-billed Grebe above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

Interaction between American Coot and Common Gallinule continued with intense behavior numerous times while I was otherwise focusing my attention the the aves in the air.


Bob Blanchard above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Tree Swallow above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Common Gallinule above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Turkey Vulture above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Black Vulture above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Black Vulture above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Mottled Duck above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Mottled Duck above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Limpkin above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Limpkin above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Tricolored Heron above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The American Coot above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The American Coot above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The American Coot above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

I had initially thought that the coots took the brunt of the chase to conclude that a lone bird of the species was possibly an interloper attracting the attention of both species.


The American Coot above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Common Gallinule above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Common Gallinule above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Common Gallinule above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Common Gallinule chasing American Coot above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Common Gallinule chasing American Coot above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Common Gallinule chasing American Coot above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Common Gallinule above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Common Gallinule above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Common Gallinule above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Anhinga above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Common Gallinule chasing American Coot above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Common Gallinule above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Common Gallinule above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

A highlight moment was when a coot nudged another offering apparent support. This cute moment lasted a mere brief few seconds before a chase began again.


The Common Gallinule above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Common Gallinule above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Black Vulture above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Tricolored Heron above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The American Coot above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The American Coot above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The American Coot above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The American Coot above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The American Coot with Common Moorhen above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Common Gallinule chasing American Coot above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Common Gallinule chasing American Coot above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The American Coot above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Sandhill Crane above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Glossy Ibis above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.

Harns Marsh Preserve lived up to the expectation I have of this venue to overjoy the senses with ease.


The Glossy Ibis above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Cattle Egret above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


The Black Vulture above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in November 2013.


Please see: Harns Marsh Preserve Late Fall: Article I
Please see: Harns Marsh Preserve Late Fall: Article II